Islanders should be prepared to hunker down on Wednesday night with a potentially heavy snowfall in the province’s forecast.
SaltWire Network’s chief meteorologist Cindy Day said a low-pressure weather system approaching P.E.I. from the southwest could bring about 15 cm of snow to the province on Wednesday.
Day said the system will likely reach P.E.I. by mid-afternoon Wednesday, with all of the province currently under a special weather statement issued by Environment Canada.
Day said snowfall will be fairly even throughout the province, although West Prince may bear the brunt of the system.
“It could go a little heavier around western P.E.I., you could get 15 to 20 cm,” said Day, adding that eastern P.E.I. may see 10 to 15 cm.
The snow is expected to change over to rain for a couple hours overnight Wednesday before returning to snow.
Despite the change in temperature, Day said much of the snow will likely remain in the province.
“I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of rain or melting, it’s going to get above freezing but just barely,” said Day, adding that freezing rain may be possible.
Day said Islanders should expect some poor road conditions on Thursday.
“It’s going to be greasy on the roads,” she said.
Luckily for Islanders, the system is not expected to bring strong winds during the periods of snowfall.
Day said winds will likely be about 20 to 30 km/h during the snowfall, but may pick up slightly during the rainy period.
“It’s not too powerful of a system, so winds won’t be terribly significant,” she said.
Day said the system will begin pulling out of the province early Thursday.
